IPL 2020 Auction: Pat Cummins Becomes the Most Expensive Foreign Player in IPL

Published 12/19/2019, 6:17 AM EST

Australian fast-bowler Pat Cummins becomes the most expensive international player in Indian Premier League history. He hammered the highest price at the IPL 2020 Auction as Kolkata Knight Riders table a bid for Rs 15.50 crore. As expected, the right-handed pacer set the auction stage on fire.

From a base price of Rs 2 crore, the Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore tussled with each other till the bid of Rs14.75 crore, when Kolkata Knight Riders jumped into the bidding war. The Knight Riders then outbid RCB and DC to snap up Pat Cummins for Rs 15.50 crore.

.@KKRiders say HI to @patcummins30 😮😎👍 @Vivo_India #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/23jEGFaHKc
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 19, 2019

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Pat Cummins will make just under $10,000 per delivery in the IPL next year. No Big Bash contract this summer, but Cummins’ $3.1 million price will see him take home almost as much as two entire BBL franchises (36 players). #BBL09 #IPLauction
— Sam Landsberger 🗯 (@SamLandsberger) December 19, 2019

Pat Cummins’ performance in IPL

Cummins has represented the Kolkata Knight Riders in the past, playing four games for the franchise between the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Pat Cummins was the highest wicket-taker for the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) 15 wickets in the 2017 IPL. The 26-year-old has played only 16 matches in IPL with a bowling average of 29.35 and an economy rate of 8.29.

He is the only bowler to have taken 50-plus wickets in this calendar year in Tests. His last five bowling performances in T20 cricket: 1/19, 0/15, 2/23, 2/29, 2/27. Cummins is ranked 23rd in the ICC T20 International bowling rankings.

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Kolkata Knight Riders

The Kolkata franchise of the Indian Premier League, Kolkata Knight Riders, did not have a great run last season, having failed to make the playoffs on the basis of net run rate (NRR). The franchise is owned by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, actress Juhi Chawla and her spouse Jay Mehta. The Knight Riders have claimed 2 titles in the history of IPL so far in 2012 and 2014.

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Cummins’ compatriot Glenn Maxwell earned himself a big payday as well, as the big-hitter was sold to Kings XI Punjab for INR 10.75 crore after a tussle with Delhi Capitals.

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Starting off as a tennis author in 2018, Varun Khanna has gone on to contribute to EssentiallySports in various capacities. After setting up interviews with the likes of Serena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou, Alizé Cornet, and Noah Rubin, Varun is now part of all major ATP and WTA press conferences and has gone on to pen more than 1300 articles for EssentiallySports. He now heads the tennis and NBA division of the organization.